put a tube in my 250sx rear tire, bead won't seat on one side but holds air fine.

[350for350]

Actually atc007, I have seen a 16" tire seat on a 16.5" rim. After it exploded at over 100 psi! No it wasn't me. It was the tire shop owner's dope head son. Not pretty! the only time I've used a strap was when the tire wouldn't seal and take air. I remove it AS SOON as it will take air. I mounted a new set of paddles last weekend and they both took over 45 psi. My bike tires usually take 60 to 65 psi to seat both beads. Don't use grease like C.J. said. I'm not saying that it won't work, it just isn't as slick as bead lube or a liquid soap like dish soap. Also I've read that petroleum products like oil or WD-40 will degrade the rubber of the tire. I read that in an atv magazine so I don't know where they got their information. Of course if the tire's old and dry rotted, all bets are off as to the safety factor of high pressure.

[kilabeez0]

Thanks for all the info. Deflated the tire and pushed the bead down and wire wheeled the rust and crap off the edge of the rim and lubed it up real good with grease. 20psi and she popped on.

[atc007]

Silly me,,,didn't realize we were working with a RUSTY rim . Yes, the 1st step in mounting ANY tire is a rust free,clean LUBED rim Glad it's up and running.

[C.J]

Don't use grease like C.J. said. I'm not saying that it won't work, it just isn't as slick as bead lube or a liquid soap like dish soap. Also I've read that petroleum products like oil or WD-40 will degrade the rubber of the tire. I read that in an atv magazine so I don't know where they got their information.

I know WD-40 will soften a tire because it can soak into the rubber. We had a big problem with it at our local dirt track for a year or two. People doping tires to get the rubber real soft even though the class rules specified they could only run x compound tire. It's popular with non-studded ice classes as well. But all the tire shops around me will use grease on older vehicle rims. I haven't had any problem yet with grease lubed tires. We shall see! I also use some M-12 super high heat grease that's slicker'n owl sh¡t and I've yet to get it to go to a liquid form

But yea,, dish soaps works fine. Windex works (not the best by a long shot though. That's what I used to do this past set of turf tamers),,, literally anything slick and non-petroleum based (except grease because at this time I have yet to have a problem with using grease)

[Dirtcrasher]

Personally, in this sport, it costs $$.

Buy a nice new tire or set on .190 thick rims and throw away that tube that will haunt you forever.

If anyone says "my tube is great!! 5 years strong" just ignore it and listen to the long time members that have both failed and succeeded.............

[kilabeez0]

thanks dirt crasher but like i said i only ride this trike in my yard doing yard work with a trailer. the tube will be just fine. i don't have the $$$ to put new wheels on it. hell it doesn't have front brakes or even a rear brake lever!! just the rear brake pedal. read my other thread about trying to do some maintenance! i'm adding a few more pics now lol. up next is my atc70 with 138 lifan motor that i built up 7 years ago and tore it down 2 years ago and its still in pieces! THAT needs new wheels!